MP swimmer Jenck trains in Paris

Mountain Pointe junior Clara Jenck returned home this summer and
found a unique training opportunity.

Every two years Jenck heads back to France to see family.

It's a great time to catch up, reminisce and get a chance to
revisit the culture of the country in which she was born.

What it is not is a time to take a break from swimming.

"I couldn't go that long without training," said Jenck, who moved
to Ahwatukee Foothills when she was 3 years old. "I was away from
my club team, but I couldn't go without training at all."

She has dual citizenship so Jenck felt it was a good chance to make
herself known to the coaches in France in case she is able to
continue her career at the international level.

Jenck trained for two weeks - one in Paris and the other in
Perpignan - and basically had one-on-one coaching because the
national team was in Shanghai, China, for the 14th FINA World
Championships.

"It was a different type of training, but it was good" she said.
"They don't focus on intervals, jut pace. I learned a lot."

More importantly it gave her a chance to possibly grow into the
ultimate competitor for her home country.

"If you look at it from an Olympic point of view, there are less
people there and it would be easier to qualify for the Olympic
team," she said. "I'm far from it, but at least I know it is a
possibility."

Jenck's main events are the 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.
There is a possibility that she could enter some 500 freestyle
events this year as well.

"She can be just as strong in the 500," Mancuso said before the
season. "We might stretch her out and see what she can do. We are
unsure of how we are going to use her yet, but Clara will be strong
no matter where we put her."

Jenck, who competed for Sun Devils Aquatics in club season, proved
to be one of the state's best sophomores last season as she
finished third in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1 minute and
51.91 seconds and third in the 100 backstroke in 57.41 at the
Division I state meet.

She was the top seed in the 100 back, but didn't finish it off in
the finals as Chaparral's Leticia Lelli and Xavier's Talie
Anchustegui took first and second, respectively.

"I wasn't upset because I know them and they are good friends,"
Jenck said. "I was happy overall (with her performance at state). I
made the junior national (time) cut, but I know I have to get
better each year."

Jenck, who was on the Pride's 200 medley and 400 freestyle
medal-winning relay teams, said she is working on her tempo and
turns to make sure she continues to progress.

"This is a big year for me," Jenck said. "Third place was good as a
sophomore, but I don't want to settle for that. I know I can do
better."

The same can be said for the Pride's team after Mountain Pointe
finished sixth at the state meet last year with the new divisional
alignment.

"We have a lot of talent," Jenck said. "It's early and we are still
building stamina, trying to figure out our (events), but we want to
finish higher at state."

Watch this discussion.Stop watching this discussion.

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language.PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated.Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything.Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person.Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts.Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.